How to Prepare a Retirement Speech

Unlike any kinds of speech, a retirement speech shouldn’t be something that tackles only one issue. It should not only talk about you leaving the company. More to that, you should make a brief discussion on various things you have accomplished while working for the company.

Here’s a quick guide on how you can make a compelling retirement speech.

Flow of the speech

The initial aspect you should think of when composing a speech would be its flow.

Add a bit of humor

Retiring can be a sad time in your life and of the company’s as well. That’s why it’s advisable to insert a joke or two in your speech. If people know you as a serious person for the past years, it would be a monumental twist if they’ll hear a joke from you.

To become a good speaker means, to be able to change the mood of the audience and this can be done through cracking jokes. After all, you don’t want to speak in a room filled with sad people.

Cite the changes in you and in the company

Next is to mention any changes within the company. Compare how it was when you first entered and how it is doing now that you’ll retire.

You should also mention any changes you developed while working in the company. It could be basic changes such as becoming an early bird, or a significant change such as being wiser in terms of running a business.

The following changes should also be included in your speech:

Promotions you got

Awards that the company received under your management (or at least when you were still working there)

Awards that your team got

Events sponsored by the company (and attended by you, of course)

Say thank you

It is just right to thank those people who helped you throughout your stay in the company. You can also tell a short tale about instances where a person was able to help you without him realizing it. Don’t forget to thank the entire company as a whole as well.

You can also quote some lines that a certain individual said which were able to motivate you in your work.

Keep your speech precise

Bear in mind that not all individuals listening to your speech can fully relate to it. That is why it’s highly advisable to keep every sentence short and precise. It’s not like an article that you can read back over and over again if you didn’t understand a line or two.

Despite the long list of stories you want to share and people you want to mention, it’s also wise to keep your speech as short as possible.

Whether you’re making a retirement speech for yourself or for another person, these tips will certainly be useful. It’s always handy to have a quick guide you can follow through. Nevertheless, these tips will remain as is until you take action.